GeoDictation blitz contests go on: GEOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY

Department of Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry at the Geological Faculty of Moscow State University. Photo: Alexander Zhirnov

The sixth blitz contest is held from March 27 till April 2

The Russian Geographical Society invites you to take part in a series of short thematic competitions, thanks to which everyone can submit their ideas for the questions of the Geographical Dictation – 2023. Let's briefly repeat the general concept:

  • Seven blitz contests "Write your question for the Geographical Dictation" are dedicated to the Year of the Teacher and Mentor.
  • Two competitions are opened weekly on a specific theme, inspired by anniversaries and related to school courses.
  • Facts and questions sent to each of the blitz contests should be focused on the geography of Russia in conjunction with the proposed topic.
  • Students compete in most interesting facts that they learned thanks to their teachers; Mentors share the most unusual questions their students have asked.
  • From February 13 to May 17, 2023, the international competition "Write your question for Geographical Dictation – 2023" is held, for which no more than three original questions can be submitted. Participation in both the blitz series and the international competition is welcome, but the submission of the same question is not allowed.

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Opoki is a geological outcrop of layers of the Permian period in the northeast of the Vologda Oblast. Photo: Andrey Shestakov, participant of the Russian Geographical Society contest "The Most Beautiful Country".

"Geology and Chemistry" is the theme of the sixth week of blitz contests when Russia celebrates Geologist's Day (first Sunday of April). We are waiting for the brightest and entertaining facts that impressed the Students, and non-standard questions about the chemical processes in the lithosphere and natural resources of Russia that the Mentors heard from their pupils and students.

Ideas submitted a pair of blitz contests under this topic should be about chemical phenomena observed in the earth's crust and the natural resources that constitute the natural heritage of Russia. Questions and facts may concern:

  • Russia's resource base, including the placement of mineral deposits;
  • energy complex of the country;
  • the contribution of Russian scientists to the establishment and study of the patterns of formation and distribution of minerals;
  • unique rocks and minerals found in Russia, discoveries of domestic researchers in the field of petrology, geochemistry and mineralogy;
  • various species of extinct animals and plants found in the country, discoveries of Russian paleontologists.

Questions and facts from the field of soil science are also welcome.

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Cape Tobizin on Russky Island is a geological monument of nature. Photo: Olga Musienko, participant of the Russian Geographical Society contest "The Most Beautiful Country".

In order for your idea to be accepted for the competition and, in case of victory, to form the basis of one of the tasks of the main version of the Geographical Dictation 2023, the submitted fact or question must meet a number of criteria:

1. Question types. The competition accepts questions of an exclusively closed type, with multiple answers. Important: there can only be one correct answer per question and, similarly, only one unquestionable interpretation is possible for a fact. Requirements for questions and examples of their presentation are fixed in Appendix No. 1 to the Regulations on the competition (in Russian).

2. Originality. The competition accepts questions and facts that do not repeat the content of the tasks of the Geographical Dictation of previous years. You can see all the variants for past seasons of the Geographical Dictation here (and test your knowledge as well).

3. Amount of submitted questions. There is a strict limit here – one person can submit no more than three questions to the blitz contest.

Let us briefly recall the procedure for holding a series of short thematic competitions:

  • Questions and facts are checked by experts who determine the best ideas, on the basis of which the tasks of the main variant of the Geographical Dictation will be formulated.
  • Two Winners of each topic – the Mentor and the Student – will receive Contest certificates and a gift certificate that allows to pay for a tourist trip "with an open date" along one of the routes recommended by the Russian Geographical Society.
  • The list of Winners will appear on the website of the Russian Geographical Society no later than May 17, 2023.
  • By decision of the Competition Commission, a group of Finalists can also be determined, from which no more than four Prize-winners can be selected within each topic.

PARTICIPATE IN THE COMPETITION

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Mayersite, cerussite and azurite crystals. Rubtsovskoye deposit, Altai Territory. Photo: Timofei Pashko, participant of the Russian Geographical Society contest "The Most Beautiful Country".